Galveston's $4 Million Transit Terminal

[J.A.S.O.N.]

Downtown Transportation Terminal Funding Decision Made Today

04/22/05 Author: Janet Cohen

Mayor Thomas reported today that the Transportation Policy Committee of the Houston-Galveston Area Council voted unanimously to place Galveston

[houstonsemipro]

All I have to say at this point. Galveston is coming up very quickly.

[editor]

It's interesting that Galveston is spending millions to redevelop its rail links with the mainland. City leaders talk about running rail to the city of Houston and beyond, which is curious since Houston city leaders aren't exactly trying to develop rail within their own city, let alone anywhere else. Most of the proposed and completed rail projects the city of Houston has had to be dragged into kicking and screaming.

Perhaps Galveston has something else in mind. Since rail is expanding in many other regions of the nation, maybe Galveston is angling to link up directly with Amtrak in New Orleans or San Antonio and bypass Houston altogether since it can seem to get its act together. Or even better -- use some old feright line to link Galveston directly with Dallas. Imagine being a Dallasite and being able to jump on a train and five hours later be at the beach -- no traffic, no hassles.

Or maybe the idea is for Galveston to link up directly to Hobby airport. That would certainly be good for the island's cruise ship industry. And I bet travel agents and the cruise lines would love to tell their clients from around the nation's midsection that they just have to fly into Houston, and there's a train to take them from the airport right to the cruise ship. That's an even better deal than well-established cruise cities like Vancouver and Miami can offer.

[J.A.S.O.N.]

I do know the city of Galveston is doing a wonderful job in improving infrastructure and transportation on the island. The 4.6 million trolley rail expansion has just been completed, and the 1.3 millon airport control tower is currently under construction. Not much by Houston standards, but critical improvements for our growing city.

If your speculations are correct editor, It would have proved Galveston has learned from the past in dealing with Houston in how vital transportation can be . Galveston has the most successful cruise port on the gulf in only about 5 years, and the Port of Houston has chosen to strategically place its new cruise facility in Seabrook (complete in 2007). Instead of watching our cargo float past us, this time it could be cruise ships. There is no time to waste!!

[dalparadise]

It's silly for Houston to try to compete with Galveston in the cruise business. Houston already reaps great rewards from Galveston's cruise business and many Houstonians count this island amenity as one of their favorites in the metro area. Houston would be wise to work with Galveston in building a rail line between the two cities to help speed travelers from the airports to the cruise terminals and back.

Then, maybe Galveston could build a casino on the north side and continue the entire development of that part of the island. This would also be of great benefit to Houston and increase Galveston's power as a tourist draw. Hotels from Clear Lake down to the island, itself would boom, as would attractions like Space City Houston, Gulf Greyhound Park, Moody Gardens, Kemah Boardwalk, The Strand and the Seawall beaches.

The hidden benefit would be a commuter rail line that would serve one of our most congested corridors, improving transportation along 45 and fueling a real estate boom in places like EASTERN PEARLAND, League City, Friendswood, Clear Lake City, Dickinson, Seabrook and so on. Can you envision a Santa Monica-like Seabrook? That would really be something.

[editor]

Maybe Galveston could build a casino on one of those uninhabited islands, and charge $10 per person to be ferried over. Anyone going to a casino is going to have at least that much on them, and then you're taxing a vice like cigarettes, alcohol, and other vices but without directly taxing it so it's all nice and legisature-free.

Even though Galvestonians are proud to be their own island, their own city, even their own county, I've always felt of Galveston as a neighborhood of Houston, and the neighborhood with the most potential.

[J.A.S.O.N.]

Well the Port of Galveston just entered into a deal with BP for a 600 million dollar LGN terminal to be operated on Pelican Island, so that leaves no room for casinos on that island.

Editor, I do think there is some feeling of kinship between Houston & Galveston, but there is also a feeling of a separate defining identity here on the island. I read in a local paper the other day when referring to the Houston Chronicle it read...."Its imported from the mainland" lol

[J.A.S.O.N.]

Latest On Terminal

"John Carrara of The Goodman Corporation updated the City of Galveston Livable Communities Steering Committee on the Downtown transportation terminal that will be erected at 25th and Strand, where the Brown Family Trust currently operates a parking lot..."

Article Link

Another Trolley Extension

Article Link- Convention Center

[ENGcons]

While a rail link between Galveston and Houston is a great idea, it would need to be done right. If you wanted this to help spur on the cruise industry, which is the future of Galveston imo, then you need a real train, not a trolley car or a metro rail. People gettign off from a plane at hobby will not want to lug around lugagge onto a small trolly for the ride to Galveston. It will need to be a Mass Transit style train with room for lugagge.

Also leave metro out of it, they are doing a good enough job screwing up the "mass transit" in Houston at a snails pace no less. Galveston will need to study areas that deal with this issue on the East Coast where outlying cities use rail to get into major urban areas. If this is done right then it would be an incredbile asset to the Island. Don't use Houston as any kind of rail model if you want success.

[ricco67]

a better way to do it is to have a (heavy) line from IAH and have it go down, and have a LRT stretch to meet the line and people can off load from there and continue their journey.

Galveston is very undeservered, but galveston itself needs to have a more robust transportation system as well.

The rail lines that leads to the rail yard in the cruise ship lines are very far away and is is insanely busy at all hours of the day and night. There isn't a proper solution to keep the galveston cruise ship serviced while keeping the port humming along unless a dedicated spur is made.

[J.A.S.O.N.]

While a rail link between Galveston and Houston is a great idea, it would need to be done right. If you wanted this to help spur on the cruise industry, which is the future of Galveston imo, then you need a real train, not a trolley car or a metro rail. People gettign off from a plane at hobby will not want to lug around lugagge onto a small trolly for the ride to Galveston. It will need to be a Mass Transit style train with room for lugagge.

Also leave metro out of it, they are doing a good enough job screwing up the "mass transit" in Houston at a snails pace no less. Galveston will need to study areas that deal with this issue on the East Coast where outlying cities use rail to get into major urban areas. If this is done right then it would be an incredbile asset to the Island. Don't use Houston as any kind of rail model if you want success.

All aboard a revived plan: rail to Galveston

By ALAN KOLODNY

Look south, my fellow Houstonians, the gentle Gulf breezes whisper: "Welcome to our future."

Yes, the future is incredibly bright for our Bayou City, but Houston's potential is linked to improving quality of life and tourism. And Galveston is essential to both.

Let's embrace the Gulf of Mexico, not only for the wealth it brings in oil and gas and via its shipping lanes, but also for its oft-overlooked natural beauty

[J.A.S.O.N.]

More About The Houston-Galveston Line in the Chronicle 1-28-07

[Hunter]

There use to be a light rail that ran between Houston and Galveston in the early 1900's. The right away is still mostly there (power lines run down it now. So no need to put in new lines) as well. Just redevelope it and put it back in use.

[TheNiche]

There use to be a light rail that ran between Houston and Galveston in the early 1900's. The right away is still mostly there (power lines run down it now. So no need to put in new lines) as well. Just redevelope it and put it back in use.

Correction: the ROW for the Houston-Galveston Interurban is now mostly occupied by Interstate 45 except in portions of Galveston County.

[gnu]

Correction: the ROW for the Houston-Galveston Interurban is now mostly occupied by Interstate 45 except in portions of Galveston County.

actually the ROW moves from I-45 south of Monroe/Winkler. you can see the slight curve in 45 at that location.

Then it becomes the HL&P(centerpoint) ROW all the way to the causeway.

[RedScare]

Correction: the ROW for the Houston-Galveston Interurban is now mostly occupied by Interstate 45 except in portions of Galveston County.

Correction of Correction:

http://members.iglou.com/baron/ghe-row.htm

[J.A.S.O.N.]

Isle hasn

[Trae]

Definitely. I think Galveston would become a smaller New Orleans.

[J.A.S.O.N.]

Definitely. I think Galveston would become a smaller New Orleans.

Is that a good or bad thing?